Froth flotation device



Sept. 15, 1936. G, GUTZElT 2,054,539

FROIH FLO'IATION DEVICE Filed March 16, 1936 MWW Patented Sept. 15, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FROTH FLOTATION DEVICE Application March 16, 1936, Serial N0. 69,025 In Germany March 22,'1935 1 Claim.

The present invention refers to a froth flotation device provided with a rapidly rotating air distributing box and, opening into same, a hollow shaft for air admission.

By means of present invention it will be possible 130 enrich ores in a specially favourable way, the distribution of air required being done in a most rational manner, without risking production of whirls and large bubbles in the pulp. 'Ihus may be prevented the gushing of froth on the surface of the float device, which of course would reduce the yield. The air is minutely distributed in the pulp. The very close mixture of air and pulp accomplished in that way, has a most remarkable effect on ehe yield. On the other hand, the concentra- Ision thus obtained is endowed With extraorclinary purity, because the ore particles are not mechanica1ly swept along. This is due to the fact that ehe air distributing box does not act as an agitator, but nevertheless possesses ehe same advantages; it produces a very minute air emulsion, though no ore particles are being projected to the surface, so that merely small particles caught by air buhbles can get into 131'18 froth.

According to the present invention, the air distributing box has a truncated cone shape, its lesser diameter being located in the lower part corresponding to the tapered end o-f the lower tank wall. On1y the tapered side Wall of the air distributing box shows air outlets. Owing to the fact that air outlets are located only on that tapered, inside sloping lateral wall of the distributing box, an obstruction of same during the operation cannot take plane. Facing the air outlets there are arranged on the lower part of the likewise tapered tank, some cutters atomizing the discharged axr.

Neither are a novelty, flotation cells whose lower part has a truncated cone shape. The difierence between the object of this application and devices which already are known, therefore resides in I;he fact, that the air distributing box represents a truncated cone with tapered upper wall, and that above mentioned cutters are arranged in face of the perforated side wa1l of the air distributing box on the lower tapered end of the fioating tank, whereas the tapered upper wall and the flat lower wall provided in the usual way with special agitating wings are not perforated. By means of combining these characteristics a new technical efiect is obtained. Airis admitted on the upper part of the rotating shaft owing to a determined pressure which of course harmonizes with the hydrostatic pressure cf the pulp. Escaping from the air outlets, the air enters ireely into the pulp, that is to say, not by means of a porou.s agent, as for instance in the MacIntosh cell. Such cutters have the purpose of hindering the rotating movement 5 of the liquid and de, by impact, minutely distribute the air.

The agitating wings on the lower wall of the air distributing box are intended to prevent the deposit of the heavy particles in the pulp.

Vertical plates having a diagonal direction may be located in a well known manner above the horizontally running air distributor so as to obviate the rotation of the liquid and to create an undisturbed zone in the upper cell part. Additional agents are be introduced in the usual way, preferably on the lower cell part, by means of a pipe arranged for this purpose.

The attached drawing shows in perspective as an example which nowise is meant I;o be a limitation-a method of constructing the device, according to the present invention:

I is a wooden or metallic container with outlet 2. A vertical shaft 3 guided by bearings 4, carries on its upper part a pulley 5, through Which the rotating movement is being transmitted. The perforated shaft is provided on its upper end With a stuffing box 8, through which compressed air is introduced. On the lower shaft end is located the truncated cone shaped air distributing box 6, which shows 011 its side Wall eight hole ranges each of them being situated in a generatrix of the conus. 011 its lower Wall are located the wings I, intencled 1:0 prevent deposits of larger ore particles. The cutters 9 arranged on the tapered lower end of the cell Wall, impede the rotating movement of pulp, and atomize the air in the latter. The diagonal plates II) allow the existence of an undisturbed zone on the upper part of the cel1 where froth may develop. The additional reagents are admitted by pipe II.

What I claim is A froth flotation device with rapidly ro tating air distributing box and hollow shaft opening into same for air admission said box being of trumcated cone shape with its smaller diameter located towards the lower part, and having on its side Walls some air outlets, a Isank having a lower unperforated tapered portion opposite the tapered portion of said cone, cutters on said tapered portion of I;he tank, and agitating wings on the cone adjaoent the bottom portion 0f the tank.

GREGOIRE GUTZEIT. 

